Affirmative Action and the Focus on Freedmen Lineage
PR Newswire In June 2023, American history witnessed a turning point as the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled against race-based admissions decisions at colleges and universities. This verdict sparked reactions throughout the country, particularly among the descendant community of U.S. chattel slaves, descendants of free Negroes, and unaffiliated Negro descendants of slaves to Native American tribes (collectively “Freedmen”).
Over the years, affirmative action cases have been instrumental in addressing historical inequalities and attempting to reduce the impact of the past on marginalized groups, such as the Freedmen. By providing opportunities and leveling the playing field, these initiatives have strive to create a more equitable society for all individuals.. However, this latest decision by the Supreme Court refocuses the country’s attention on the lineage of the Freedmen. This shift brings the nation one step closer to the initial goal of the post-civil war 14th amendment, Freedmen civil rights acts of the 1860s, and the Negro-driven affirmative actions of the 1960s civil rights movement – to repair the harms of continual discrimination against the U.S. Negro Freedmen.
Responding to this significant ruling, The Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™ is offering a first-of-its-kind litmus test to help identify U.S. Negro Freedmen. Such identification involves proving connection to a maternal and/or paternal Black American (Negro) direct bloodline ancestor born in the United States before 1924.
Pamela Denise Long, National Coordinator for The Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™, views the 2023 SCOTUS decision as a crucial step forward. This ruling paves the way for institutions to enact admission preferences based on previous discrimination.
The Freedmen community urges institutions to commit to four key actions for redressing historical wrongs:
1. Implement a certification process to verify applicants claiming U.S. Negro Freedmen lineage, following the example of the California state law AB 3121.
2. Modify recruitment, admissions, and retention processes to ensure that vetted descendants of U.S. Negro Freedmen are the primary beneficiaries of special considerations.
3. Develop a student development program that guides descendants of U.S. slaves from admission through to alumni career development and retirement.
4. Focus on admissions into STEAM and finance fields to address the health, wealth, and well-being disparities of U.S. Negro Freedmen patients and consumers.
This momentous decision by the SCOTUS represents a potential turning point in the journey to rectify the damages caused by chattel slavery and Jim Crow discrimination. It also reinforces the importance of the post-civil war amendments and the 1960s civil rights movement.
The Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™ is dedicated to ensuring the implementation of reparation policies, practices, and financial appropriations to redress the impacts of chattel slavery, Jim Crow, and ongoing discrimination against multi generational Black Americans. Their work involves collaboration with institutions and governments at all levels.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this SCOTUS decision and its implications for the Freedmen community. To stay updated on the Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™ and their work, visit their website at www.concernedfreedmen.com, and don’t forget to follow @coolbruthas on Twitter and Instagram for more updates.
PR Newswire. “The Coalition of Concerned Freedmen™ Issues Four Calls-to-Action in Open Letter to College Presidents Demanding Lineage-Based Affirmative Action for Descendants of U.S. Slaves/Free Negroes.” July 28, 2023.
